About Me (In My Own Words)
I had been diagnosed with a murmur on my mitral valve at birth, spent my first 2 years being seen weekly for EKG and blood tests. Skip past the next 45 years of sports, Army service, giving birth, high stress career as a 911 dispatcher. In 2014 I had lost 50 lbs and got in shape running 4-6 miles a day. Oh yes and I had been smoking for 30 years.
After the birth of my first grandchild in February of 2015. I went to my Dr. and had a physical. She recommended and Echocardiogram to check up on my murmur. They found severe Aortic valve stenosis, so this led to the angiogram the next week and final and correct diagnosis of my congenital heart DEFECT. Which is I actually had a UNICUSP Aortic valve with SEVERE stenosis. The opening in my valve was 1/4 square inch. All of this with the only symptom being shortness of breath when I ran (normal for me) and plateauing in my fitness.
I had to stop running, but I continued to walk several miles a day until surgery. My surgery was successful, and I can now run several miles before having to start intervals, I can BREATHE! And I haven't had a cigarette since April 2015!!!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Sacramento, California
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My surgery date is:
April 20, 2015
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Henry Zhu
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My hospital is:
Alex G. Spanos Heart & Vascular Center / Mercy Ge
